Order Only - First Challenge

[alt_hydra]

We candidates received our first challenge in the owl post this morning.

"Sometime in the next three days, create something that expresses your loyalty and obeisance to the Lord Protector and put it on display in the school."

It's not so bad as what I imagined, but it makes me wonder if the next one will be something more taxing, either physically or psychologically.

How will they judge which is the best? It sounds awfully subjective.

I guess we'll see. I'm not sure what I'll create, I'm not very artistic, though it doesn't say that it has to be art.

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Are you allowed to get help? If anyone wants to write a song, I could help you make something that would sing it (since you have to put it on display). Either in your voice, or someone else's.

I mean, even if you aren't allowed to get help, I could do that, we'd just have to be more careful to be sure no one saw me helping you.

[alt_pansy]

I was thinking of seeing if Sue could get the choir to sing something. If I could pull it off in three days, that is. Could you record them, maybe?

I figure there'll be a tonne of people working up until the last minute, but writing a new song might justify the delay.

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh yeah, I could record them. Though you'd be better off getting something in by owl-order for that, if you want really good sound quality.

Maybe have one of the suits of armor record it and sing it back? (I could make one of them do that. I think.) So it would be 'on display in the school.'

[alt_pansy]

Hm.

If we could get all the suits to sing it at once, it'd be more impressive.

Or maybe we could have a parchment with the words to the song on it, and it plays when you touch it or something? So at first, people would think it's a poem, but then the song comes out?

[alt_sally_anne]

Hmm. I think in order to do THAT I'd need to make the armor from scratch, which would be a lot of work. Unless -- hmm. Maybe we could stick something INSIDE the armor...

There's probably a way, sure. Whichever you want.

[alt_pansy]

It might sound weird if they're singing in high voices. We might have to test it out.

We could keep the parchment in mind as back-up.

I'm going to work on the song.

[alt_harry]

Did you get a chance to talk to Katie yet?

[alt_pansy]

No, Harry, I haven't.

I'm a bit occupied at the moment. And so is she.

We've got several weeks to sort this out. I'll see if I can talk with her tomorrow, but if not, it can wait for a little. She'll be fine.

[alt_harry]

Oh. Yeah. Okay. Sorry, Pans.

[alt_justin]

Hello, sweetheart,

Well, I've no particular ideas myself, but at least I've a little free time to get real work done, so we can put our heads together tonight. Our revision group broke apart today because Padma, Blaise and Seamus each wanted to work on the challenge. Or rather, I should say that they told me to push off because no one wanted to talk about ideas in from of me. I'm not sure if they're working together or separately, what. I say, Zach won't tell me anything, either, because he's convinced I'd turn right round and report to you what he's thinking of doing. And naturally, he'd be correct!

Harry, have you been given any instruction about the judging?

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

I think I've finally come up with an idea, but it will involve being able to get into the great hall alone for at least a few hours. That might be tricky.

[alt_justin]

I can't be sure but I suspect tomorrow night's going to be the time when most of the others will be setting up their displays. I say, is it something you think you could do tonight? I'd stand guard if you like.

-J

[alt_hydra]

It will only require some lighting charms, but I need some time to do a little research on designs, first, so I can be sure to get it right.

I'm skipping supper to work on this. Meet me at 9 in the corridor that leads to the dungeons?

[alt_justin]

Do you want me to bring you anything from supper? Or some biscuits?

-J

[alt_hydra]

Yes, please, either of those. I won't be able to think about eating until I'm finished, though. After which point I'm sure to notice that I'm famished.

[alt_severus]

This can easily be arranged.

In fact, should any of you need access to any of Hogwarts' facilities, or simply an uninterrupted period of time in which to work, simply tell me when and where and I will arrange it.

[alt_hydra]

Oh, thank you, that would be very helpful. Would it be possible to have the great hall empty and off-limits tonight from 9-11? I'm sorry that it's short notice, but I think Justin's right, that most people won't be putting their displays up so early. So it may be an ideal time.

[alt_severus]

Yes: send me word when you are ready, and upon your entrance to the hall, cast a blasting curse on the floor of the entryway just outside the doors. I will conduct the repair slowly enough to prevent anyone who may be out past curfew from interfering.

I cannot escort you back to your dormitory afterwards without giving away the fact that I am assisting you, so I advise the employment of disillusionment spells.

[alt_hydra]

That will work very well, thank you.

[alt_severus]

No thanks are necessary.

[alt_draco]

In a number of cases, everyone will be trying to hide what they're creating from others, so that they can't have their idea stolen or be out-done. So keep that in mind, I suppose.

I haven't testing out my painting and drawing skills in some time, but I had enough lessons when I was younger that I think I ought to be able to manage.

[alt_evelyn]

If it's something large and you need help, let me know.

I can also embroider things, if that is any use at all.

[alt_draco]

It will be large, but I'll find somewhere in the dungeon to keep it. I'm sure Milland/Snape can find me a spot that is officially off-limits to the rest of the student body.

[alt_severus]

Hogwarts has many secrets that she only discloses to those in need.

The far reaches of the south wing are rarely disturbed. A notice-me-not on the corridor past a certain point should suffice.

Private message to Hydra

[alt_sally_anne]

Do you want to succeed or fail? Have you decided?

Re: Private message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

Oh. Was I supposed to have decided?

Private message to Ron

[alt_sally_anne]

Do you have any ideas?

You know those crackers you make every Christmas, with the little stick people walking around telling terrible jokes? I started imagining a really big one of those. Telling jokes like, 'How many muggles does it take to get a book off a high shelf?' 'Depends on how you stack them!' or 'Why did Auror Lestrange cross the road?' 'Don't question me, small one!' or 'Who's our favourite person with no nose?' 'THE LORD PROTECTOR, OF COURSE!'

You definitely shouldn't do this but now I can't stop imagining it (on a HUGE piece of parchment! hung up in the Great Hall!) and thinking up jokes they could tell and it's making me giggle.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_ron]

You're brilliant, you know?

I mean, of course, I didn't tell no-nose jokes about the LP, but what you said got me thinking about moving pictures and... well, you can see what I did.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_sally_anne]

Well, that's perfect. No one can fault your loyalty and creativity and it took WAY less effort than what Draco and Pansy and the rest are getting up to.

AND there's no way for Finnigan or Thomas to mess with it.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_ron]

Yeah. I worked on it this evening, but really it didn't take long. And I hardly spent any time thinking it up.

Plus. I didn't have to figure out how to do it after curfew when I'm supposed to be in bed before Nev. Wonder what Finnicky will do about that. Could be an opportunity there!

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_sally_anne]

Do you think he's planning to sneak out after curfew for his project?

Does the spell Nev used keep you from casting spells OUT of your bed? I mean the thing is, once you dismiss the charm you'll be defenseless for the rest of the night. Though if you have to sit up all night, we could always go tell the secret room we need another nap. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for but I'm feeling really well-rested now.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_ron]

He's still here, so I guess he's not going anywhere tonight. Means we're all staying put, I reckon. It's a shame, yeah. I'm not very tired now. We could try the room again tomorrow after Transfig. Oh, but wait. You've got Runes, don't you? Remind me why you went on with that, exactly? Really inconvenient!

And, yeah, I don't know what happens if you try to cast from inside the protections on my bed drapes. You're probably right about it breaking them. Makes sense, doesn't it?

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_sally_anne]

You and Nev could experiment a little maybe while Finnigan and Thomas aren't in the room? Maybe you CAN cast through it, and that's why it has to be cast from the outside?

Anyway, yeah, if you're not absolutely sure he's asleep he could ambush you when you came out, and that wouldn't be good. I'm free for part of the afternoon tomorrow, after Runes. There's hours before dinner, we could try again. Though if we say we need a place to nap I expect the room will make us fall asleep again, we'll have to try something else.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_ron]

That gives us something to think about while we're lying here awake, I guess. Though I'm actually thinking more about what we'll do once we get the room to let us in than what we could tell it to get through the door.


Mm. Yeah.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_sally_anne]

Good night, Ron.